JPH1153593A - Toll collection/reception system for toll road - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To considerably suppress the occurrence of traffic jam in the respec tive interchanges 2 of a toll road. SOLUTION: The entrance device 6 of the respective interchanges reads the license numbers of vehicles and transmits them to a center device as entering vehicle data with entrance interchange information. The center device temporarily stores/holds entering vehicle data received from the respective entrance devices in an entering vehicle file, retrieves the entering vehicle file by the vehicle number contained in leaving vehicle data received from respective exit devices, reads entering vehicle data of the same vehicle number and returns entrance interchange information contained in entering vehicle data to the exit device of the transmission source of exiting vehicle data as return data. The exit device 7 of the interchange has a traffic fare file storing respective traffic fares from the other interchanges to the self-interchange, reads the license number of the vehicle, transmits it to the center device as exiting vehicle data, retrieves the traffic fare file by entrance interchange information contained in return data received from the center device and obtains the traffic fare of the exciting vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toll road toll collection system that collects tolls at exit exits when vehicles exit the toll road.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art On a toll road that collects tolls from vehicles according to toll distances, such as a highway laid over a long distance, a large number of interchanges (ICs) are provided along the toll road. ) Is provided. As a general method of collecting tolls from vehicles traveling on such toll roads, an entrance device installed at an entrance gate of each of the interchanges magnetically records an entrance inter number for identifying an entrance to a vehicle entering the toll road. Issue the recorded toll ticket. Then, the toll ticket possessed by the driver of the exiting vehicle is collected at the exit device at the exit gate of each interchange, and the exit intermission number magnetically recorded on the toll ticket and the exit exit number of the own vehicle are used to identify the exiting vehicle. The toll is calculated and charged to the driver of the vehicle.

More specifically, the exit device of the exit gate has a toll ticket reader and a toll file for storing tolls for each type of vehicle from each interchange to the own interchange. Then, the attendant at the exit gate receives the pass ticket from the driver of the exiting vehicle, and thereafter inserts the pass ticket into the pass ticket insertion slot of the exit device. Then, the pass ticket reader is activated and reads the entrance inter number and the vehicle type magnetically recorded on the pass ticket. Then, the toll memory is searched by the read vehicle type and the entrance inter number, and a toll for the corresponding exit vehicle is obtained.

[0004]

However, each vehicle traveling on a toll road must stop at an interchange twice when entering the toll road and when exiting from the toll road. It is necessary to receive tickets and pay tolls.

[0005] Therefore, at the time of congestion, a row of entering vehicles and exiting vehicles is generated at the entrance gate and the exit gate of each interchange. In particular, at the exit gate, the attendant receives the passport, inserts the passport into the passport of the passport reader,
A great deal of time is required to calculate tolls, notify the driver of toll charges, receive deposit from the driver, calculate change, and hand change and receipts to the driver. , One of the causes of traffic congestion on expressways.

There are various toll collection systems that can omit passing and receiving of toll tickets and tolls at each of the interchanges, and can collect correct fares without stopping the vehicle at the entrance and exit gates of each of the interchanges. It has been proposed (JP-A-7-73350, JP-A-8-185546).

In this system, each vehicle is provided with a transmitter for wirelessly outputting its own vehicle number. The vehicle number of an entering vehicle is received at an entrance gate, and the vehicle number of an exiting vehicle is received at an exit gate. Therefore, since the entrance and exit of the vehicle having the corresponding vehicle number are specified, the toll between the vehicles is calculated.

On the other hand, if the relationship between the vehicle number and the owner or driver of the vehicle is known in advance, the calculated toll can be charged to the owner or driver of the vehicle at a later date. . In addition, it is also possible to automatically debit the account of the financial institution of the owner or driver of the vehicle.

[0009] However, in this system, it is necessary to provide a transmitter for wirelessly outputting its own vehicle number to all vehicles traveling on the toll road, which imposes a large facility cost on vehicle owners. Will be. Even if the equipment cost is paid by the road layer, the burden of paperwork for collecting and collecting tolls for all vehicle owners at a later date becomes enormous. Also, it is virtually impossible to have all vehicle owners open accounts for toll payment.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and each vehicle using the toll road is connected to each entrance without imposing any economic burden on the owner of the vehicle traveling on the toll road. It is possible to pass without stopping the gate, reduce the number of work processes related to toll collection at the exit gate of each interchange, greatly reduce the stop time of exiting vehicles at the exit gate, and improve the processing efficiency for collecting toll tolls. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toll road toll collection system that can be improved and can minimize the occurrence of congestion at each of the interchanges.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a vehicle which enters a toll road via an entrance device provided at each interface on a toll road, and uses an exit device provided at each interface. A toll collection system for a toll road that collects tolls from the vehicle and includes a center device that manages an entrance device and an exit device for each of the interchanges. Means for reading the vehicle number of the vehicle with a camera, and means for transmitting the read vehicle number and entrance interface information for specifying the self-interchange to the center device as approach vehicle data.

The center device temporarily stores the entering vehicle data received from each entrance device in an entering vehicle file, and searches for the entering vehicle file by the vehicle number included in the exit vehicle data received from each exit device. Means for reading out the entry vehicle data of the same vehicle number, and means for returning the entrance information included in the read entry vehicle data as return data to the exit device of the transmission source of the corresponding exit vehicle data. .

The exit device of each of the interchanges includes a toll file storing the toll from each of the other interchanges to the self-inter, a means for reading the vehicle number of the vehicle exiting from the toll road with a camera, and the read means. Means for transmitting the vehicle number as the exit vehicle data to the center device, and means for searching for the toll file based on the entrance information included in the reply data received from the center device and obtaining the toll for the exit vehicle. I have.

[0014] In the toll collection system for a toll road configured as described above, when a vehicle that intends to use the toll road passes through the entrance device of the interchange without stopping,
The vehicle number of this approaching vehicle is read by a camera, transmitted to the center device as approaching vehicle data together with the entrance information, and stored in the approaching vehicle file of the center device. Therefore, the entry vehicle file of the center device stores and holds the vehicle numbers and entrance information of all vehicles currently passing on the toll road.

On the other hand, when the vehicle approaches the exit of the interchange to exit the expressway, the vehicle number of the exiting vehicle is read by the camera, and the vehicle number is transmitted to the center device. Then, the toll of the corresponding exit vehicle is read from the toll file using the entrance information of the exit vehicle received from the center device.

That is, in this toll collection system, the entering vehicle does not need to stop at the entrance. In addition, even at the exit interchange, a toll is automatically output when approaching the exit device without having to hand a toll ticket.
Therefore, compared with the conventional method in which a toll ticket is handed to all vehicles, the processing efficiency for collecting the toll can be greatly improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a means for issuing a pass ticket recording entrance information for identifying the self-inter, when the vehicle number is not normally read, is added to the entrance device of each interchange. Further, means is added to the exit device of each interchange to search the toll file based on the entry information recorded on the inserted toll ticket and obtain the toll of the exiting vehicle.

In the toll collection system for a toll road configured as described above, for example, when the license plate of an entering vehicle is soiled due to rain or snow, and the vehicle number cannot be read, etc. A normal toll ticket is issued for the approaching vehicle. In this case, a normal toll collection process using the toll ticket is performed at the exit interchange.

As described above, it is possible to improve the reliability of toll collection by enabling toll collection with a normal toll ticket only when the vehicle number cannot be read. Further, in another invention, the entrance device of each interchange includes means for reading the vehicle number of the vehicle entering the toll road with a camera, and the read vehicle number and entrance interface information for specifying a self-interest, by entering vehicle data. Means for transmitting to the center device.

Further, the center device includes a toll file for storing the toll between the respective interchanges, means for temporarily storing and holding the entering vehicle data received from each of the entrance devices in the entering vehicle file, and receiving from each of the exit devices. Means for searching for the entry vehicle file with the vehicle number included in the exit vehicle data read out and reading the entry vehicle data of the same vehicle number, entry inter information included in the read entry vehicle data and included in the received exit vehicle data. Means for searching the toll file with the exit interchange information to determine the toll for the vehicle;
Means for returning the calculated toll to the exit device of the transmission source of the exit vehicle data.

Further, the exit device of each interchange includes means for reading the vehicle number of the vehicle exiting from the toll road with a camera,
It has means for transmitting the read vehicle number and exit interface information for specifying the self-interchange as exit vehicle data to the center device, and means for outputting the toll for the vehicle received from the center device.

In the toll road toll collection system configured as described above, the toll file is provided not in each exit device but in the center device. In this case, the exit device sends the read vehicle number and exit interface information specifying the self-inter, to the center device as exit vehicle data. The center device obtains the toll of the corresponding exit vehicle from the toll file and sends it to the exit device. Therefore, the exit device can charge a toll for the exiting vehicle.

In this case, since the toll file storing the toll between the interchanges is provided in the center device, the structure of each exit device can be simplified, and the toll revision is easy.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a toll road toll collection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
For example, a number of interchanges 2 are provided along a toll road 1 such as a highway. Each entrance 2 has an entrance gate 3
And an exit gate 4, an entrance device is disposed at the entrance gate 3, and an exit device is disposed at the exit gate 4.
The entrance device and the exit device of each interchange 2 are connected to a center device 5 installed in the management center of the toll road 1 via a dedicated line.
It is connected to the.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an entrance device 6 and an exit device 7 installed at the entrance gate 3 and the exit gate 4 of each interchange 2. In the entrance device 6, a vehicle detection sensor 9, an axis number sensor 10, a camera 11, a display 11, and a pass ticket issuing machine 13 are provided along the approach path of the vehicle 8 at the entrance gate 3. Data processing unit 1 that controls
4 are provided. The distance between the display 12 and the pass ticket issuing machine 13 is 20 to 30 km / h.
Is set to a distance that can be stopped sufficiently.

When the vehicle 8 enters the entrance gate 3, it is detected by the vehicle detection sensor 9 and the vehicle number is read by the camera 11. Then, the vehicle 8 gets on the main line of the toll road 1 without stopping. If the vehicle number is not correctly read by the camera 11, an instruction to acquire a toll ticket is displayed on the display device 12, and the driver stops at the toll ticket issuing machine 13 and takes in the automatically issued toll ticket. Get on the main line of Toll Road 1.

On the other hand, the exit device 7 is provided with a vehicle detection sensor 15, an axis number sensor 17, a camera 16, and a money handling device 18 along the exit path of the vehicle 8 from the exit gate 4. When the vehicle 8 approaches the exit gate 4, the vehicle 8 is detected by the vehicle detection sensor 15, and the vehicle number is read by the camera 16. And the vehicle 8 is the money processing device 1
Stop at 8 positions, pay the toll to the staff, and leave the road.

FIG. 3 is a book diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entrance device 6 provided at the entrance gate 3 of each interchange 2. For example, a vehicle detection sensor 9, an axis number sensor 10, a camera 11,
Display 12 consisting of large lightning display board, toll ticketing machine 1
3. A transmission / reception unit 20 for exchanging various information with the entry vehicle totalization file 19 and the center device 5 is connected.

In the entry vehicle totalization file 19, the number of vehicles of each type of the vehicle 8 that has entered the toll road 1 from the entrance gate 3 is cumulatively totaled every day. FIG. 4 shows this inlet device 6.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of approaching vehicle data 21 transmitted from a vehicle to a center device 5. At the beginning, an entry IC number is set as entry interface information for identifying the self-inter, 2
Next, the entry date, the entry time, the vehicle number of the approaching vehicle read by the camera 11, the type of the vehicle determined from the vehicle number, and the number of axes read by the axis number sensor 10 are incorporated.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the center device 5 installed in the management center. For example, for a data processing unit 22 composed of a computer, a transmitting / receiving unit 23 for performing various kinds of information exchange between an entrance device 6 and an exit device 7 disposed in each interface 2, an entry vehicle file 24, The sales statement file 25 is connected.

As shown in FIG. 6, the approach vehicle data 24 shown in FIG. 4 received from the entrance device 6 of each of the interchanges 2 is stored in the approach vehicle file 24 in a time-series manner. Further, in the sales statement file 25, a toll (sales fee) for each vehicle type between each of the interchanges 2 of the toll road 1, an entrance IC number, an exit IC number, an entry date, an entry time, and a payment Detailed data including a method (cash, credit card, highway card, separate payment card, IC card, etc.) is stored. If you pay by card,
The expiration date, billing address, and card number are also stored.

FIG. 10 is a book diagram showing a schematic configuration of the exit device 7 provided at the exit gate 4 of each interchange 2. For example, a vehicle detection sensor 15, an axis number sensor 17, a camera 1
6. Exchange of various types of information with the display 30 including a large lightning display panel, the toll ticket reader 31, the cash processing device 18, the sales detail file 32, the toll file 33, the exit vehicle totaling file 34, and the center device 5. A transmitting / receiving unit 35 for performing the operation is connected.

The toll file 33 contains the toll road 1
The toll for each vehicle type from each of the interchanges 2 to the own one is stored. The exited vehicle totaling file 34 includes the vehicles 8 exiting the toll road 1 from the exit gate 4.
The number of vehicles of each vehicle type is cumulatively totaled every day. Further, in the sales statement file 32, the toll for each vehicle type collected by the exit device 7 is accumulated.

FIG. 8 shows that the outlet device 7 is connected to the center device 5.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format of exit vehicle data 27 transmitted to the vehicle. At the top, an exit IC number is set as exit interface information for specifying the self-intersection 2. Next, the exit IC number is determined from the exit date of the vehicle, the exit time, the vehicle number of the exiting vehicle read by the camera 16, and the vehicle number. The vehicle type and the number of axes read by the axis number sensor 17 are incorporated.

FIG. 11 shows that each time the exit device 7 generates toll sales for one exiting vehicle, the center device 5
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format of sales statement data 36 transmitted to the user. As shown, the sales specification data 36 includes a use date indicating the date of use, an entrance IC number at which the vehicle 8 entered the toll road 1, an exit IC number at which the vehicle 8 exited from the toll road 1, and a corresponding vehicle 8 , And tolls collected or collected from the vehicle. In the case of non-collection, detailed data such as payment method (type of credit card, separate payment card, etc.), expiration date, card number, billing address, etc. are also included for postpayment by card use.

The entrance device 6 installed at the entrance gate 3 of each interchange 2 executes the processing shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the vehicle detection sensor 9 detects the vehicle 8 entering the entrance gate 3 in S1, the number of axes of the vehicle 8 is detected by the axis number sensor 10 (S2). Next, the camera 11 is activated to photograph an area including the lower license plate on the front of the vehicle 8 (S3). Then, characters of the vehicle number on the license plate are recognized from the captured two-dimensional image (S4).

When the vehicle number is decoded normally (S
5) The vehicle type is determined from the vehicle number (S6). Next, the entry vehicle data shown in FIG. 4, which incorporates the read entry vehicle number, vehicle type and number of axes, the entry IC number for specifying the entry entrance, the entry date indicating today's date, and the entry time. 21 is edited (S7). Then, the entry vehicle data 21 is transmitted to the center device 5 via the transmission / reception unit 20 (S8). Next, 1 is added to the cumulative number of vehicles of the vehicle type in the entry vehicle totalization file 19 (S9).

If it is determined in step S5 that the vehicle number on the license plate has not been correctly recognized from the photographed two-dimensional image, a message "Stop temporarily and pass the ticket" is displayed on the display 12 consisting of a large electronic bulletin board in step S10. Please take a message. " Then, a ticket issuing command for the toll ticket is transmitted to the toll ticket issuing machine 13 and the entrance IC for identifying the self-interchange is issued.
A toll ticket in which the number, the entry date indicating today's date, and the entry time are magnetically recorded is issued (S11). Then, 1 is added to the number of unknown vehicles in the entry vehicle total file 19 (S12).

The center device 5 installed in the management center executes the processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. R
In step 1, when the vehicle data 21 shown in FIG. 4 is received from the entrance device 6 of one of the interchanges 2, the vehicle data 21 shown in FIG. 6 is additionally written into the vehicle file 24 shown in FIG. 6 (R2).

When the exit vehicle data 27 shown in FIG. 8 is received from the exit device 7 of one interchange 2 at R3,
The entry vehicle file 24 is searched by the vehicle number included in the exit vehicle data 27 (R4). When the corresponding vehicle number is stored in the entry vehicle file 24 (R5), the exit vehicle data 21 of the corresponding vehicle number stored in the entry vehicle file 24 is read, and the vehicle reply data 26 shown in FIG. 7 is edited. (R6).

As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle reply data 26 includes the entry IC number and the entry date of the exit vehicle data 21 of the corresponding vehicle number read from the entry vehicle file 24 at the head of the exit vehicle data 27 received. Day and entry time are added. Then, the created vehicle reply data 26
Is returned to the exit device 7 of the transmission source of the exit vehicle data 27 (R7). After that, the exit vehicle data 21 of the corresponding vehicle number is deleted from the entry vehicle file 24 (R8).

If the corresponding vehicle number was not stored in the entry vehicle file 24 at R5, the license plate of the corresponding exit vehicle 8 was dirty at the entrance interchange due to the weather and the like, and could not be read. It is determined that the information was correctly interpreted at the exit interchange. Then, in this case, the corresponding no-vehicle reply data 28 shown in FIG. 9 in which the information of no corresponding vehicle number is added to the head portion of the received leaving vehicle data 27 is edited (R9). Then, the corresponding vehicle absence reply data 28 is transmitted to the exit device 7 (R7).
In this case, there is no need to delete the exit vehicle data 21 of the corresponding vehicle number from the entry vehicle file 24.

When the sales statement data 36 shown in FIG. 11 is received from the exit device 7 of each interchange 2 at R10,
The received toll is cumulatively added to the sales amount of the corresponding vehicle type in the corresponding inter section of the sales specification file 25 (R1
1).

The exit device 7 installed at the exit gate 4 of each interchange 2 executes the processing shown in the flow charts shown in FIGS. When the vehicle detection sensor 15 detects the vehicle 8 that is about to exit from the exit gate 4 at P1, the number of axes of the vehicle 8 is detected by the axis number sensor 17 (P2). Next, the camera 16 is activated to photograph an area including the lower license plate on the front surface of the vehicle 8 (P3). Then, characters of the vehicle number of the license plate are recognized from the captured two-dimensional image (P4).

When the vehicle number is successfully decoded (P
5), the vehicle type is determined from the vehicle number (P6). Next, the exiting vehicle data shown in FIG. 8 incorporating the read out vehicle number, vehicle type, and number of exits, the exit IC number specifying the exit exit, the exit date indicating today's date, and the exit time. 27 is edited (P7). Then, the exit vehicle data 27 is transmitted to the center device 5 via the transmission / reception unit 35 (P8). Next, 1 is added to the cumulative number of vehicles of the corresponding vehicle type in the exit vehicle total file 34. Then, it waits for the return data from the center device 5 to be received.

When the reply data from the center device 5 is received at P9, if the corresponding reply data is the vehicle reply data 26 shown in FIG. 7 (P10), the entry IC number and the entrance IC number of the corresponding exit vehicle are obtained from the vehicle reply data 26. Read the model (P1
1). Then, the toll file 33 is searched with the read entry IC number and vehicle type, and the corresponding toll is read (P12). The read toll is displayed on the display 30 including the large-sized light-emitting display panel (P13).

When money corresponding to the toll is received from the driver of the vehicle 8, the receipt is issued by operating the money processing device 18 (P14). Next, sales registration processing such as adding the toll this time to the sales amount of the corresponding vehicle type in the sales specification file 32 is performed (P15). Then, the sales date, the entrance IC number, and the exit I shown in FIG.
The sales statement data 36 including the C number, the vehicle type, and the toll is edited and transmitted to the center device 5 (P16). In addition,
In the case of payment by a card, the sales statement data 36 is edited by adding data such as a payment method (card type), a card number, an expiration date, a billing address, and the like, and transmitted to the center device 5. Thereafter, 1 is added to the cumulative number of vehicles of the corresponding vehicle type in the exit vehicle total file 34 (P17).

If the reply data could not be received at P9, or if the reply data received at P10 is the corresponding vehicle-less reply data 28 shown in FIG.
At 18, the process waits for the pass ticket received from the driver of the exiting vehicle 8 to be inserted into the pass ticket reader 31 (P18). When the toll ticket is inserted into the toll ticket reader 31, various information recorded on the toll ticket is read (P19). Then, the entrance IC number included in the read information is determined (P2
0).

When the attendant at the exit gate 4 visually determines the type of the exiting vehicle 8 and key-inputs the type (P2
1) The toll file 33 is searched with this vehicle type and the preceding entrance IC number, and the corresponding toll is read (P2).
2). The read toll is displayed on the display 30 comprising a large-sized lightning display panel (P23).

When money corresponding to the toll is received from the driver of the vehicle 8, the receipt is issued by operating the money processing device 18 (P24). Next, sales registration processing such as adding the toll this time to the sales amount of the corresponding vehicle type in the sales specification file 32 is performed (P25). Then, the sales date, the entrance IC number, and the exit I shown in FIG.
The sales details data 36 including the C number, the vehicle type, and the toll is edited and transmitted to the center device 5 (P26). In addition,
In the case of payment by a card, the sales statement data 36 is edited by adding data such as a payment method (card type), a card number, an expiration date, a billing address, and the like, and transmitted to the center device 5. Thereafter, 1 is added to the cumulative number of vehicles of the corresponding vehicle type in the exit vehicle total file 34 (P27).

In the toll collection system for toll roads according to the first embodiment having the above-described structure, the vehicle 8 that intends to use the toll road 1 sets the entrance gate 3 of the interchange 2 to a predetermined speed of, for example, 30 to 40 km / h. Passing without stopping at the speed, the vehicle can join the main road of the toll road 1 as it is.

Therefore, it is not necessary to stop the vehicle once at the entrance gate 3 of the interchange 2 in order to receive a pass ticket, so that traffic jam of the entering vehicle 8 at the entrance gate 3 of the interchange 2 is prevented beforehand.

When the driver exits the toll road 1 and approaches the exit gate 4 of the interchange 2, his / her vehicle number is automatically read and the toll is displayed on the display 30 comprising a large electronic bulletin board. Is displayed. Then, the vehicle temporarily stops at the exit gate 4 and pays the toll displayed in advance to the attendant.

Thus, at the exit gate 4, the driver need only pay the displayed toll. Also,
The attendant only has to receive the toll and hand the receipt. That is, as in the conventional method, a pass ticket is received from the driver, and the pass ticket is inserted into the pass ticket reader 31,
There is no need to wait for tolls to be calculated.

Therefore, the vehicle 1 at the exit gate 4
The processing time required for collecting the toll per vehicle is greatly reduced as compared with the conventional method. As a result, the probability of occurrence of congestion at the exit gate 4 can be significantly reduced.

In the case where the license plate of the approaching vehicle is soiled due to, for example, rain or snowfall, and the vehicle number cannot be read, a normal toll ticket is issued to the approaching vehicle. . In this case, a normal toll collection process using the toll ticket is performed at the exit interchange.

As described above, it is possible to improve the reliability of collecting the toll by enabling the collection of the toll by the normal toll ticket only when the vehicle number cannot be read. Since the probability that the vehicle number cannot be read is very small,
The effect of reducing the processing time required for toll collection described above is hardly impaired.

As described above, a great effect of suppressing the occurrence of congestion can be expected with a small capital investment as compared with the case where the transmitter for transmitting the own vehicle number is attached to each vehicle. (Second Embodiment) Next, a toll road toll collection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the toll collection system of the second embodiment, the toll file is provided not in each exit device 7 but in the center device 5. This toll file stores tolls between the interchanges. Therefore, by searching the toll file based on the entry IC number, the exit IC number, and the vehicle type, the toll of the corresponding exit vehicle is read.

Therefore, in this case, the entrance device 6 transmits the intruded vehicle data 21 shown in FIG. 4 incorporating the read vehicle number and the entrance IC number for specifying the self-intersection to the center device 5.
Send to On the other hand, the exit device 7 sends the exit vehicle data 27 of FIG. 8 incorporating the read vehicle number and the exit IC number specifying the self-interchange to the center device 5.

The center device 5 obtains the toll of the corresponding exit vehicle from the toll file and sends it to the corresponding exit device 7. Therefore, the exit device 7 can charge a toll for the exiting vehicle.

In this case, since the toll file storing the toll between the interchanges is provided in the center device 5, the configuration of each of the exit devices 7 can be simplified, and the toll revision is easy. .

[0062]

As described above, in the toll collection system for toll roads according to the present invention, the entrance and exit devices installed at the entrance and exit gates of each of the interchanges have the vehicle numbers of the entering and exiting vehicles. Is read to calculate the toll.

Accordingly, each vehicle using the toll road can pass through the toll road without stopping, without imposing any economic burden on the owner of the vehicle passing through the toll road. The number of work steps related to toll collection at the gate can be reduced, the stop time of exiting vehicles at the exit gate can be greatly reduced, the processing efficiency for collection of tolls can be improved, and the occurrence of traffic congestion at each of the interchanges can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a toll road and each interchange to which a toll road toll collection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement relationship of each member in an entrance device and an exit device in each interface of the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an entrance device of the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format of approach vehicle data transmitted from the entrance device to the center device;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a center device of the system of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing stored contents of an approaching vehicle file provided in the center device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format of vehicle reply data transmitted from the center device to the exit device.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a format of exit vehicle data transmitted from the exit device to the center device of the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a format of the corresponding vehicle-less reply data transmitted from the center device to the exit device of the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an exit device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a format of sales data transmitted from an exit device to a center device.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the entrance device.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the center device.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the outlet device.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the outlet device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Toll road 2 ... Inter 3 ... Entrance gate 4 ... Exit gate 5 ... Center device 6 ... Entrance device 7 ... Exit device 8 ... Vehicle 9, 15 ... Vehicle detection sensor 10, 17 ... Number of axes sensor 11, 16 ... Camera 12 , 30 ... display 13 ... toll ticket issuing machine 14, 22, 29 ... data processing unit 20, 23, 35 ... transmission / reception unit 21 ... entry vehicle data 24 ... entry vehicle file 26 ... vehicle return data 27 ... exit vehicle data 28 ... Reply data without applicable vehicle 33 ... Toll file

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle enters a toll road via an entrance device provided at each of the interchanges on the toll road, and a toll is collected from a corresponding vehicle at an exit device provided at each of the interchanges. A toll collection system for a toll road including a center device for managing an entrance device and an exit device, wherein the entrance device of each of the interchanges reads a vehicle number of a vehicle entering the toll road with a camera, and Means for transmitting, as entry vehicle data, the read vehicle number and entrance inter information specifying the self-inter, to the center device, wherein the center device stores the entry vehicle data received from each of the entrance devices in an entry vehicle file. Means for temporarily storing and storing the entry vehicle file with the vehicle number included in the exit vehicle data received from each of the exit devices, and searching for the same vehicle number. Means for reading the entry vehicle data, and means for returning entrance inter information included in the read entry vehicle data as return data to the exit device of the transmission source of the exit vehicle data. Is a toll file storing each toll from each of the other interchanges to the self-interchange, means for reading the vehicle number of the vehicle exiting from the toll road with a camera, and using the read vehicle number as exit vehicle data. Means for transmitting to the center device, and means for searching for the toll file based on the entrance information included in the reply data received from the center device to determine the toll for the exiting vehicle. Road toll collection system. 2. The entrance device of each of the interchanges has means for issuing a toll ticket recording entrance inter information for identifying the self-inter, when the vehicle number is not normally read, 2. The toll road according to claim 1, wherein the exit device has means for searching the toll file based on the entrance information recorded on the inserted toll ticket and obtaining a toll for the exiting vehicle. Receiving system. 3. A vehicle enters a toll road via an entrance device provided at each of the toll roads, and a toll is collected from a corresponding vehicle at an exit device provided at each of the toll roads. A toll collection system for a toll road including a center device for managing an entrance device and an exit device, wherein the entrance device of each of the interchanges reads a vehicle number of a vehicle entering the toll road with a camera, and Means for transmitting, as entry vehicle data, the read vehicle number and entrance information specifying the self-inter, to the center device, wherein the center device stores a toll between the respective interchanges. Means for temporarily storing and entering vehicle data received from each of the entrance devices in an entry vehicle file; and Means for retrieving the entry vehicle file with the same vehicle number by searching the entry vehicle file with the entry vehicle number, entry interface information contained in the read entry vehicle data, and exit entry information contained in the received exit vehicle data. Means for retrieving the toll file and finding the toll for the vehicle in question, and means for returning the obtained toll to the exit device of the transmission source of the exit vehicle data. The apparatus reads a vehicle number of a vehicle exiting from the toll road with a camera, and transmits the read vehicle number and exit interface information for identifying a self-inter to the center device as exit vehicle data,
Means for outputting the toll for the vehicle received from the center device.